Matablog

Archive for May, 2010

This recipe is really easy and obscenely tasty. It is adapted from Madhur Jaffrey’s An Invitation to Indian Cooking. The original recipe specifies very fresh whole pea pods, to be eaten like artichoke leaves (pull between your teeth, so that you eat not just the peas but the fleshy part of the pod as well). I found that it worked very well with green beans (to be eaten whole, as normally), which I happened to have on hand.

Heat the ghee over moderately high heat in a 10″ skillet. When hot, add the asafoetida and cumin seeds and stir once. When the cumin seeds change color (10-20 seconds), add the green beans and stir for 1 minute. Add lemon juice, the first 1/2 tsp garam masala, salt and pepper. Stir, add the warm water, bring to a boil, turn heat to very low, cover, and cook gently for about 20 minutes, until tender (Jaffrey specifies 20-30 minutes for the pea pods, but I found the beans were done in just under 20). Stir once or twice during cooking.

Serve in a warm dish, sprinkled with the addiitonal garam masala.

* Note: there are many different varieties of garam masala. For this recipe, I used one from Julie Sahni’s Classic Indian Cooking:

Break open cardamom pods, remove seeds and reserve; discard skin. Crush the cinnamon with a kitchen mallet to break it into small pieces. Combine all the spices including the cardamom seeds and roast them in a thick-bottomed pan, stirring frequently, until they darken slightly and become richly aromatic. Allow to cool, grind in a spice grinder, and then store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Recipe may be cut in half.

WFMU returns to Barcelona’s Primavera Sound festival, which starts tonight and features a lineup that is pretty damned impressive. Just like last year, WFMU will be broadcasting Primavera sets from various artists, including the following Matador bands at the following times (all EDT):

FRIDAY, MAY 28
12:10pm Mission of Burma
5:40pm The New Pornographers
8:45pm Pavement

SATURDAY, MAY 29
1:10pm Condo Fucks
2:20pm Cold Cave

The full WFMU Primavera broadcast schedule, which includes sets by The Fall, Wire, Liquid Liquid, and other luminaries, can be found at WFMU’s Beware of the Blog. All times are subject to change, so pay attention to WFMU’s Twitter and Facebook for updates. Tune in to WFMU at 91.1FM in NY/NJ, 90.1FM in the Hudson Valley, and wfmu.org for everyone else.

Even though we’d been convinced that all that slaving away at the myriad marketing gimmicks, “promo opportunities” and general suffering we put bands through would leave us with some very exhausted talent, it turns out that these guys just can’t stop doing thangs… read on to see what some of our beloved have been up to.

Though she’s on tour with the New Pornographers, as we speak, Kathryn Calder just put the finishing touches on her new solo record. On August 11 the world’ll be treated to ‘Are You My Mother?’ which features an all-star band featuring Neko, Kurt and Todd from The New Pornographers and a handful of other Canadian musical luminaries. Check File Under: Music for more info.

Mogwaiwill be releasing the pretty stunning looking live LP entitled, ‘Special Moves’to coincide with the release of their first live film ‘Burning’, which was filmed in Brooklyn during the band’s tour in support of ‘The Hawk Is Howling’ in April of 2009. Check Mogwai’s site for info on ordering the record and where you can catch screenings of ‘Burning’.

Matmos‘ Drew Daniel and Martin Schmitt have teamed up with So Percussion on a collaboration entitled ‘Treasure State‘ — expect to have your mind twisted on July 8. Cantaloupe Records sez: “The record had a complex gestation period: at the invitation of Brett Allen, the members of Matmos and So Percussion went to the SnowGhost Studios in Whitefish, Montana– the Treasure State which gives the album its title– and collaboratively generated the bulk of the songs. San Francisco plunderphonicist Wobbly then chopped and edited the results on several tracks, and finally, with frequent interventions from Matmos’ M. C. Schmidt, “fifth” So Percussion member and producer Lawson White overdubbed extra elements, processed, and mixed the results.” There’s a handful of live dates, to boot!

Around 2008/2009 Kurt Vile was releasing so many amazing recordings (not excluding the Matador-released barnburner, ‘Childish Prodigy’) it at times could get pretty difficult to keep up. It’s been a little quiet on the recorded music front lately; Kurt’s been touring pretty much non-stop only taking time of to put the finishing touches on his third longplayer, which we’ll be telling you about very soon.

But, today we’re excited to release the newest recorded missive from KV, his ‘Square Shells’ EP — in fact, we’re so excited for you to hear this, thatwe’re giving away a free download of the EP right now and for the next 24 hours, or so.

UPDATE: Thanks for checking in, the free download is now closed but the EP is available to purchase over at our webstore, in record shops around the world and through your favorite online retailers.

You’ve probably already heard the the track we leaked a few weeks ago, “Invisibility: Non-Existent”, but you’re gonna want to dig into this EP to hear all of it’s perfect summery strummers and psyched-out soundscapes.

By entering your email address below, you’ll get an instant download (and be on a very special Kurt Vile mailing list — we promise we won’t share, sell, or make fun of your email address)

It seems everyone is after some sort of Euro trip this summer, with Fucked Up joining (what feels like) the rest of the Matador roster in having a jolly overseas, playing a load of festival dates and a some headline shows in between. Presumably just to break up the travelling and to hopefully stop the arguing in the back of the van, fights over the stereo and never ending “Are we there yet?!” pestering.

The track, which is not on the album nor part of the GHTG subscription package, was recorded in Glasgow last year with Linnea Jönsson, the lead singer of Swedish band, Those Dancing Days on vocals.

The download also features a new version of “A Down and Dusky Blonde” with lead vocals by Dina Bankole.

Both tracks will also be available to buy digitally via www.godhelpthegirl.com, and will be bundled with the artwork and video for “Baby You’re Blind,” which was filmed in Stockholm in January of this year.

As noted by new addition to Team Matador Stuart Davie, Harlem are just starting their first European tour. While they’re out of the country and don’t have access to email or telephones (seeing as those are American inventions we’ve yet to share with the rest of the world), we thought it would be fun to sign them up for another tour without their knowledge.

Turns out, however, that’s not so easy. For starters, the tour we were shooting for had already committed to another support band. Also, Harlem’s agent had already accepted an invitation from The Dead Weather to play the dates listed below. I’m sure you’ll agree this is a far more favorable result than anything we had in mind, but it’s a very long year. Sooner or later, we’re gonna make someone do something with someone they don’t wanna be doing it with. Because that’s why we’re in show business.

The incomparable John Thorne provided this American with an introduction to champ, an Irish mashed potato dish made with greens cooked in milk. The recipe can be found in Pot on the Fire, which I recommend for general reading about food and food history.

This came out fantastic the first time around, and it’s very simple to make. Take 3 “all-purpose” potatoes (I used Yukon Gold), peel them and put them in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon sea salt in 1/2 cup water and pour that over the potatoes. Cover, bring to a boil, lower heat to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until the water is gone and the potatoes cooked through. This is not simple (Thorne writes that it will take several tries until you figure out the right proportion of water to potato) – in my case, I ended up raising the heat, cooking for an extra 10 minutes, then adding another 1/4 cup water, boiling again, and cooking for another 4-5 minutes. Much depends on the size of the potato.

Remove from heat and crush potatoes in your fingers until fully mashed and all lumps are gone. Return to pot and cover.

Meanwhile mince 4 scallions – the whole thing including all of the green stalk that isn’t wilted – sprinkle lightly with salt, pour boiling water on top, and drain. Add minced scallions to 1/2 cup milk and gently bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes so that the milk has absorbed the scallion flavor.

Now put the flame to low under the potato pot, and gradually add the scallion milk, beating with a wooden paddle until luscious and creamy. Add more milk if necessary (I added a splash), as well as generous amounts of salt and freshly ground pepper.

Serve immediately with butter at the table. Can be a main course or side.

Look, I know you guys are the best in the business. We’re practically choking to death on gold record plaques, high chart entries and major label copy-cat campaigners trying to sweat your hottest innovations.

All of that said, I am very, no check that, MEGA disappointed that we’ve yet to introduce a scheme for one of our elite artists (Kurt Vile? Julian Plenti? Ted Leo?) nearly as exciting as THE RICHIE KOTZEN PEACE SIGN VIP EXPERIENCE. You know that expression, “freedom’s just a word for nothing left to lose?” Well, in this instance, $100.00 is just another sum that will grant you access to a Richie Kotzen soundcheck. But wait…….keep waiting…..a bit longer. OK, that’s enough waiting. THERE’S MORE!

* – A meet and greet with Richie! Come meet RIchie, have your photo taken with him and get one personal item signed.
* - An autographed, limited edition RICHIE KOTZEN 2010 PEACE SIGN WORLD TOUR COMMEMORATIVE POSTER! (In addition to your personal item, RIchie will also personalize the poster for you at the meet and greet if you’d like)
* – A RICHIE KOTZEN VIP COMMEMORATIVE LAMINATE!
* A RICHIE KOTZEN 2010 PEACE SIGN WORLD TOUR T-SHIRT.
* - A copy of Richie’s new CD PEACE SIGN

Hot stuff, eh? Keep in mind, while Kotzen’s handlers have some mild disclaimers in place, there’s no mention, for instance, of the legendary axeman placing any restrictions on what sort of personalization you’d like on your poster or signed item. So presumably, “C.C. Deville sucks, with love, RItchie” is still within bounds.

In this fascinating Complex article, DJs Kon and Amir list the 50 greatest samples of all time, with sound files of the originals and of their uses. Ranging from David Axelrod to the Honeydrippers, from Busta Rhymes to Public Enemy, the article feels topical now that Matador is releasing hip hop again.

All this togetherness that The New Pornographers have been spreading shows no sign of slowing down, as hot on the heels of last nights sold-out London Electric Ballroom show they’ve announced details for a brace of UK festival dates and headline shows.

They’re heading back this way in September before returning to headline London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and play the Belle & Sebastian curated ‘Bowlie 2‘ ATP weekend in December – full dates below:

With our 21st birthday pending, Matador’s research department is currently combing thru microfilm, dental records and ancient shrouds for clues that might shed light on how exactly American’s Most Beloved Independent Label came to fruition. It’s a painstaking process — much like the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, human lives have been lost. And don’t think I’m not feeling guilty about it ; what’s the point of sending bright young men into a cavern without protective headgear when I could’ve just asked them to check out Michael Duane’s Facebook page?

The evening will include a reading of excerpts from artist Charles Burchfield’s journals by Jonathan Rosen, author of The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature, along with a performance by Jonathan Meiburg who will be joined by Andy Stack of Wye Oak.

The event starts at 7PM and is free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays from 6-9 pm. No special tickets or reservations are required.

And to those of you in the Philadelphia area, tune in to WHYY this evening for Shearwater’s performance on On Canvas filmed at Johnny Brenda’s in March. The program will also be available to view online as of this Thursday.

We are very honored to welcome Tex and Lucky to the Matador family. Tex and Lucky emerged on the local Atlanta music scene in December 2008, where they were contemporary to bands such as The Wig and The Babycakes, and later followed by Shiva’s Headband and The Conqueroo. The band was formed when Tex left his group The Spades, and joined up with Stacy Sutherland, Benny Thurman, and John Ike Walton who had been playing Texas coastal towns as The Lingsmen.[3] Tommy Hall was instrumental in bringing the band members together, and joined the group as lyricist and electric jug player. Ultimately Lucky joined on vocals and the rest, as they say, is history.

It has been noted that the letter “M” (for marijuana) is the thirteenth letter of the alphabet.